Impatiens plant named ‘TiCoPink’

ABSTRACT

A new, double  Impatiens walleriana  plant named ‘TiCoPink’; producing pink flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species and variety denomination: Impatiens walleriana plant and known by the cultivar name ‘TiCoPink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name of ‘TiCoPink’.

-   -   1. The plants are useful in landscaping, window and hanging         baskets and flower gardens.     -   2. The plant is an Impatiens walleriana.     -   3. The plants are generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

Description of the Relevant Prior Art

-   -   1. The pollen parent is an unpatented pollen producing double         Impatiens walleriana coded P-M-BR-3, and the seed parent is an         unpatented semi-double Impatiens coded P-BR-318. ‘TiCoPink’ is         both male and female sterile. Cultivar is both female and male         sterile. Both parents are capable of both seed and pollen         production.     -   2. The seed parent was a Pink flowered cultivar and the pollen         parent was a Scarlet flowered cultivar, neither parent is either         patented or commercially available. The cross was made in the         breeders controlled breeding program at Rogue River, Oreg. The         first asexual reproduction was also made at Rogue River, Oreg.         by lateral stems with two or more leaves. Successive asexual         generations produced from cuttings with two or more leaves have         shown the cultivar to be stable and reproduced true to type.

COMPARISON

-   -   1. The plant is compared to ‘TiLip’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,855.     -   2. The flower color of ‘TiCoPink’ is darker than that of         ‘TiLip’.     -   3. See comparison chart labeled Chart 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar is unique either in one or a combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new, double Impatiens walleriana producing pink flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; a compact mounded growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The attached color photographs illustrate a plant of ‘TiCoPink’ grown in winter and just beginning to mature. Variations between the written description and the colors in the photographs may occur due to the type of film and/or light reflectance and the type of light captured by the film. In the event there are such variations, the written description shall control.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following description was taken at Rogue River, Oreg. on Feb. 7, 2004. The description is of a plant of ‘TiCoPink’ similar to the one shown in the photograph.

The following description was taken from a plant approximately 12-weeks of age under the following environment and cultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg. Phenotypical variations may result in plants grown under conditions and locations other than those listed herein.

-   Container: 6 inch Azalea pot. -   Medium: Peat-lite type of soilless medium. -   Greenhouse covering: Double layer Polyethelene with 50% shade     applied above the covering. -   Minimum temperature: 65° F. -   Maximum temperature: 75° F. -   Light levels: 1000 to 1500 ft candles. -   Fertilizer: 20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by     one leaching with clear water. -   Cutting type: Lateral stems with two or more leaves. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil             temperature of 72° F. -   Appearance and form of mature plant:     -   -   Note.—All size measurements for plant, stems, foliage,             flowers, peduncles, pedicels, buds, and sepals are taken             during winter, low light conditions when the above are the             smallest. Spring and summer high light sizes are generally             much larger than the sizes that are described below.         -   Growth habit.—Mounded and of compact-medium vigor.         -   Plant size.—Plants mature at about 16 cm in height and about             30 cm in width. Both of these measurements are a function of             age, environmental and cultural practices, and can vary             accordingly.         -   Rooting habit.—The roots are fibrous and well branched.         -   Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.         -   Stems.—Stems are freely produced, and no pinching to induce             branching is needed. Color is translucent and lighter than             145D with stippling of very small markings that are             difficult to determine but which appear to be close to 187C.             The stems at maturity are generally at least 3 mm in             diameter at the internodes, and the internode length is             generally at least 0.5 cm in length.         -   Foliage.—Shape is ovate with cuneate to attenuate base;             crenate margin, margin having tiny spines of an             undeterminable reddish to brownish red color and each being             less than 1 mm in length and protruding outwards in a             perpendicular direction from leaf edge and parallel to the             flat surfaces of the leaf, between the lobes of the crenate             margin; and an acuminate apex. Size of largest is about 3 cm             long; about 2.75 cm wide.         -   Foliage color.—Adaxial surface close to 147A; abaxial             surface close to 147C with dark markings close to a greenish             tinged 178A; abaxial surface venation is close to 148A;             adaxial surface venation, main vein at base is closest to             146A, lateral veins are close to 146A.         -   Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.         -   Petioles.—Longest petioles are about 3 cm long, half round,             flat to slightly convex on upper surface which is about 2 mm             wide, depth of about 1.5 mm. Adaxial surface color appears             to be 146B stippled with tiny reddish markings that are             difficult to determine but appear to be close to 178A to             178B; abaxial surface color appears to be close to 146C to             146D with stippling of very tiny marks of what appear to be             178A to 178B.         -   Flower habit.—Flowers are produced continuously throughout             the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—All year around in greenhouse             conditions, and the frost-free period from spring through             fall when planted outdoors.         -   Duration of flower.—Each flower generally lasts about 5 days             at 75° F. maximum and 70° F. minimum temperature.         -   Flowers borne.—Above or beyond the foliage.         -   Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.         -   Flower color.—Petals/petaloids — Adaxial surface is close to             55B with a basal spot that appears close to 67A. Abaxial             surface is closest to 55B at the margins and changes             gradually to 55C toward the base with a basal spot of close             to 55A.         -   Quantity.—Usually two or more open flowers per stem and             generally 15 or more from visible buds to fully mature             flowers.         -   Petal/petaloid count.—Generally 25 or more.         -   Size.—Flowers are generally at least 3.5 cm in diameter;             generally at least 1 cm deep with largest petals/petaloids.             The largest petals/petaloids are generally at least 1.5 cm             wide and at least 1.5 cm long; obovate to exaggerated             obovate in shape with obtuse to retuse apex, entire margin,             and cuneate to obtuse base. The above measurements refer to             the average flowers.         -   Flower buds.—The buds prior to opening are about 1 cm in             length; about 0.75 cm. in diameter; shape is ovate. Bud             color prior to opening is close to 145A on top and close to             149D on bottom.         -   Peduncles.—Generally at least 1 cm long; about 2 mm in             diameter; colored close to 146D. Good strength.         -   Pedicels.—Generally two or more per peduncle. Each is             generally at least 1.75 cm in length, and at least 1.5 mm in             diameter. Color is close to 146D. Good strength.         -   Calyx.—Calyx consists of generally one sepal and one spur.             The spur is generally at least 1.75 cm long, and about 2 mm             in diameter at sepal end; shape is an acicular tapering tube             about 1 mm in diameter at the apex, and it is attached             toward the base of the sepal in a peltate manner. Color is             close to 178A at apex, is an orangish-green that neither             matches, nor is very close to any color in the chart, with             the closest color in the chart being 166D at base. The sepal             generally measures at least 0.75 cm wide, and at least 1.1             cm long; ovate in shape with an acute apex, entire margin,             and obtuse to cordate base; abaxial surface is lighter than             145D, with a base spot of close to 74B where the spur             connects; the adaxial surface is close to 145D and has a             basal spot that appears close to 70A where the spur             attaches.         -   Reproductive organs.—The reproductive organs are replaced             with sterile petaloids.         -   Disease resistance.—Disease resistance has not been tested.         -   Dampness resistance.—The plant has shown a good ability to             hold the flowers in an outward manner during summer rains.         -   Heat tolerance.—The plant has shown a good tolerance to             temperatures exceeding 100° F. at Rogue River by flowering             continuously during temperatures as high as 113° F.

CHART 1 COMPARISON CHART TO PRIOR ART ‘TiCoPink’ ‘TiLip’ Stems - color Color is lighter than Close to 146B with 178B 145D with tiny markings markings. close to 187C. Foliage - Size About 3 cm long; about About 5 cm long, about 2.75 cm wide. 4.5 cm wide. Abaxial - color Close to 147C with 146B. markings of a greenish tinged 178A. Foliage - Abaxial Close to 148A. 146A. venation color Foliage - Adaxial Close to 147A. Darker than 146A. color Foliage - Adaxial Main vein at base is 146A. venation color closest to 145A, lateral veins appear closest to 146A. Petiole - Size About 3 cm long, 2 mm About 2 cm long and wide, depth of about about 3 mm diameter 1.5 1.5 mm. mm in depth. Adaxial color Appears to be 146B; with 146C with stippling close stippling of 178A to to 178A. 178B. Petiole Abaxial Appears close of 146C to 146D. color 146D with stippling of 178A to 178B. Petal/Petaloid - Size Generally at least 1.5 cm. About 2.3 cm in length, wide and at least 1.5 cm. about 1.8 cm in width. long. Abaxial color Deep close to 55B 65C, with basal spot changing to 55C with a close to 67B. basal spot close to 55A. Petal/Petaloid Close to 55B with a basal 62B to 62C with darker Adaxial color spot close to 67A. veining close to 62A. Peduncle - Size About 1 cm long; about 2 About 2 cm long, about 2 mm in diameter. mm in diameter. Color Close to 146D. 146B with stippling close to 178B Pedicel- Size Generally at least 1.75 About 1.8 cm in length, cm in length, and at least about 1 mm diameter. 1.5 mm in diameter. Color Close to 146D. 146C with stippling close to 178A. Sepal - Size Generally measures About 0.8 cm wide and about 0.75 cm wide and about 1.2 cm long. about 1.1 cm long. Adaxial color Close to 145D with a 142D with basal spot spot around where the close to 66C. spur connects close to 70A. Sepal Abaxial color Lighter than 145D with a 142C. spot where the spur attaches close to 74B. Spur - Size Generally at least 1.75 About 3 cm long cm long, and about 2 mm in diameter at sepal end; and about 1 mm at apex. Color Color is close to 178A at Color at apex 177C and apex, is an orangish- 194B at base with green that neither markings of 178B. matches, nor is very close to any color in the chart with the closest color in the chart being 166D at base. Buds - Size About 1 cm in length; About 1.2 cm long, about about 0.75 cm in 0.8 cm diameter. diameter; Color Bud color is close to 145A top, 145B. 145A on top and close to 149D on bottom.

COLOR CODE CHART Stems: 145D, 187C Foliage Abaxial surface: 147C, 178A Foliage Abaxial surface venation: 148A Foliage Adaxial surface: 147A Foliage Adaxial surface venation: 146A Petiole Abaxial surface: 146C, 146D, 178A, 178B Petiole Adaxial surface: 146C, 146D, 178A, 178B Petals/Petaloids Abaxial: 55B, 55C, 55A Petals/Petaloids Adaxial surface: 55B, 67A Buds: 145A, 149D Peduncles: 146A Pedicels: 146A Sepals adaxial surface: 145D, 70A Sepals abaxial surface: 145D, 74B Spur: 178A, 166D 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of double Impatiens walleriana plant named ‘TiCoPink’, as illustrated and described. 